From 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs officially increased the application fee for the Student Visa (Subclass 500). The standard visa application charge rose by 25%, from AUD 2,000 to AUD 2,500.
However, here's something many people don't know: Vietnamese passport holders are not required to pay the full AUD 2,500 fee.
As a member of ASEAN, Vietnam is eligible for a concessional Student Visa application fee of AUD 2,050, instead of the standard AUD 2,500 charged to applicants from most other countries. This means Vietnamese students only pay AUD 50 more than the previous fee, rather than the AUD 500 increase applied under the standard rate.
This preferential fee reflects the Australian Government's ongoing commitment to strengthening educational partnerships with ASEAN countries and encouraging more students from the region to study in Australia.
The AUD 2,050 concessional fee also applies to citizens of other ASEAN member states. In addition, students enrolled in ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) and non-award programs are also eligible for lower visa application charges
Alongside the visa fee announcement, the Australian Government confirmed that the National Planning Level (NPL) for international student commencements will remain at 295,000 places in 2027, the same as in 2026. According to the Government, international student commencements are currently below the planned level and are down approximately 8% compared with the same period last year.
That said, Australia's immigration policies can change with little notice, particularly around the start of a new financial year. If you're planning to study in Australia during this intake, especially the November intake, it's worth preparing your documents and lodging your visa application as early as possible to avoid any unexpected changes to visa fees or policy requirements that could affect your plans. Planning to study in Australia? Contact Skill Direct today and let our experienced team help you get your application started early and with confidence!
